How wonderful was it for the Crunch to get a total team win to kick down the door to the division title and seize crown? The kids, Taylor Raddysh and Mitchell Stephens, got Syracuse into the winning time, and the veterans like Verhaeghe and Gabriel Dumont took the team over the finish line.

Now with 101 points going into their final regular season tilt tomorrow, Syracuse will finish with the second best regular season record in the entire league. The Crunch will wait to see who their first round playoff opponent will be: either the Belleville Senators or the Cleveland Monsters. Both clubs are tied at 82 points with the Sens holding a decisive ROW advantage as the tiebreaker. However, both teams have tough finales tomorrow against Rochester and Toronto, respectively.

Alexander Volkov, Carter Verhaeghe, and Tolvanen were the game's three stars. Volkov completes another late season assault on the 20 goal plateau. Ross Colton looks to have started his just a smidge to late to reach 20, but Taylor Raddysh might get there with a little push.

The Upstate Galaxy Cup, much like the Florida Governor's Cup, in the hands of the good guys.

Cal Foote is now just one point shy of the 30 point plateau for his rookie campaign. That's a solid first kick at the can.

Syracuse's win keeps them a scant one point ahead of Rochester for the top spot in the division. Both teams have six games remaining with Syracuse holding a two game ROW advantage.

Gabriel Dumont, Taylor Raddysh, and Boris Katchouk were the game's three stars. Katchouk made perhaps the play of the game with a Vincent Lecavalier-esque move around the corner on the rush and a behind-the-back pass that ended up being the goal that pushed the Syracuse lead to 3-0 that he chased with a roughing call and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after starting a retaliatory scrap right after the goal. In other words, a Katchouk-ian microcosm of Katchouk-ianism. The goal gave the Crunch that all important three goal margin in the final frame. And, yes, Hartford did get the old false hope goal, but in the end the three goal lead remains a virtual death sentence for the trailing team in pro hockey.

With Rochester stubbing their toe against Charlotte, Syracuse moved one point ahead in the North Division while still holding a game in hand. Also of note: Syracuse is just a scant three points back of the Checkers for the best record in the entire AHL with both teams sitting on 14 games remaining on their schedules.

Pasquale and Gabriel Dumont were the game's first and second stars. Taylor Raddysh is started to sneak up on the 20 goal plateau while Ross Colton has continued his hot run of production as of late. In his last six games, Colton has a stylish 3 goals and 8 points.

Unfortunately, Rochester also won tonight, so Syracuse only managed to keep pace in the division. They currently sit one point back of the Americans with a game in hand.